Electric socket lock



Oct. 6, 1931. HOPLAND 1,825,867

ELECTRIC SOCKET LOCK Filed March 15, 1929 Inventor Attorney Patented Oct. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAYMOND R. HOPLAND, OF ROCKPORT, WASHINGTON; ROBERT J. HOPLAND ADMIN IS- TRATOR F SAID RAYMOND R. HOPLAND, DECEASED ELECTRIC SOCKET LOCK Application filed March 18, 1929. Serial No. 346,712.

This invention relates to socket locks particularly for locking electric light bulbs, fuses and conductor plugs in electric receptacles. I

It is a well acknowledged fact that loose connections between the receptacle sockets and electric light bulbs caused by knocks, jars and vibrations cause premature dete rioration of bulbs and at the same time cause a heating of the metallic base portion of the thoroughly well established that loose socket connections cause undue noise in electric radio circuits.

Bearing in mind the foregoing. the primary object of this invention is toprovide a fire preventing lock to prevent loose conneccharacters tions in electric light bulbs, conductor plugs, and fuse plugs caused by vibrations, jar and shocks attendant with the commercial use of electric current, while at the same time to prevent damage to the receptacle sockets frequently resulting from screwing the attachments above mentioned tightly thereinto.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the character referred to which will be strong durable and compact, highly efficient for its intended purpose. thoroughly reliable in its operation, adaptable to any standard size electric receptacle, very simple in its construction and method of assembling the device in the receptacle, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings, wherein like reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation having a part broken away and in section, of an electric light receptacle having an electric light bulb screwed therein and showing an adaptation therewith of the device in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device in accordance with this invention,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the device.

Figure 4 is a central vertical sectional view of the device.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and to Figure 1 thereof in particular, it will be seen that the reference numeral 5 designates a conventional receptacle having mounted in one end portion thereof a threaded socket member 6 provided with an end wall 7. The reference numeral 8 designates an electric contact which is disposed as usual, in the inner end portion of the socket member 6.

An electric light bulb 9 is provided with a threaded sleeve 10 on its base which is received in the usual manner by the socket member 6. The free end of the base portion of the light bulb 9 is convex as usual and has projecting therefrom a contact 11 for engagement with the contact 8 in the receptacle 5.

The device constituting the present invention comprises a disc of compressible material, preferably rubber, which is designated generally by the reference numeral 12. The compressible disc 12 is provided with a centrally disposed opening 15 to accommodate the contacts 8 and 11, as illustrated to advantage in Figure 1 of the drawings. The central opening 15 provides an inner periphcry 13 in the disc, the outer periphery of which is designated by the reference numeral 14.

The compressible disc 12 is provided with a plane or flat side 16 for abutting engagement with the end wall 7 of the socket member 6 and with a concave side 17 for engagement by the convex free end of the base portion of the light bulb 9.

The compressible disc 12 is further provided with a concentric series of comparatively small spaced openings 18 which are disposed intermediate the inner and outer peripheries l3 and 14 respectively.

As will be apparent, the disc 12 is disposed in the socket member 6 between the end walls 7 of said socketmember and the free end of the base of thelight bulb,9. When in its normal or uncompressed state, the outer periphery 14 of the disc is spaced sli htly from the side walls of the socket mem r 6 and the inner periphery 13 is spaced from the contacts 8 and 11. The thickness of the disc 12 is such that the compression thereof will commence before the light bulb 9 has been threaded home in the socket member 6. Compression of the disc 12 bulges the outer periphery 14 thereof outwardly in a manner to cause same to frictionally grip the side walls of the socket member 6. Compression of the disc 12 also causes the peripheries of the openings 15 and 18 to bulge inwardly thereby forcing some of the air from these openings and creating a suction for retaining the disc and light bulb against rotation. It will further be seen that the frictional engagement of the disc 12 with the base of the light bulb 9"will effectively retain said light bulb against rotation and it will still further be apparent that the disc 12 will be retained against rotation in the socket member 6 by its frictional engagement therewith.

What is claimed is:

1. A lock for an electric receptacle comprising a compressible disc for insertion in the socket of the receptacle between the end wall of the socket and a member mounted in the socket, said member having a convex end disposed in the socket, said disc having its outer periphery spaced from the side wall of the socket when uncompressed and bulged for frictional engagement with said side wall when compressed between the member and the end wall of the socket, the disc being further provided with a centrally disposed opening for the reception of contact members in the socket and on the member, the disc being still further provided with a plane side for abutting engagement with the end wall of the socket and a concave side for engagement by the member.

2. A look for an electric receptacle comprising a compressible disc for insertion in the socket of the receptacle between the end wall of the socket and a member mounted in the socket, said member havin a convex end disposed in the socket, said isc having its outer periphery spaced from the side wall of the socket when uncompressed and bulged for frictional enga ement with said side wall when compressed etween the member and the end wall of the socket, the disc being further provided with a centrally disposed opening for the reception of contact members in the socket and on the member, the disc being still further provided with a plane side for abutting engagement with the end 

